British Bilartz & Hall .69 Caliber Carbine

By Crusader1307

An attempt to duplicate the successful Sharps and later Spence Carbine, The Bilartz Carbine was a .69 caliber, breech loading short weapon (at 21 inches long). Using a percussion cap ignition system, pre-packaged “shells” would be loaded into the retractable “chamber box” (located at the front of the weapon). The gun was a novel attempt at creating a fast loading and firing weapon for the Confederacy. Built in Virginia, the Factory was captured early in the War (with only 100 being made).